Actor Alan Cumming, who has had roles in numerous movies and TV shows, has announced he will match a reward for up to $10,000 the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has offered for information about a chimpanzee that used to be housed in a Festus-area facility but has gone missing. The chimp’s former owner said the animal died before PETA was scheduled to take possession of him and six other chimps.
PETA announced April 28 in a written statement that Cumming, who was in a 1997 movie called “Buddy” with Tonka, the missing chimp, had pledged to match the reward.
“During the months we filmed together, baby Tonka and I became good friends, playing and grooming each other and just generally larking about,” Cumming said in the written statement. “It’s horrible to think he might be in a cage in a dark basement somewhere or have met some other fate, so I’m appealing to whoever knows what has become of him to please come forward and claim the reward.”
Tonia Haddix was the last owner of Tonka and six other chimps – Crystal, Mikayla, Tammy, Connor, Candy and Kerry – who had been housed at the Missouri Primate Foundation, 12338 Hwy. CC, south of Festus, formerly known as Chimparty, which provided chimps for parties, television ads and movies. The chimps previously belonged to Connie Casey, who transferred ownership of the animals to Haddix in an attempt to end a lawsuit PETA filed against her in 2016 that claimed the chimps weren’t receiving proper care.
After years of legal battles, the case seemed to be concluded July 14, 2021, when U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry ordered Haddix to give up ownership of the seven chimps and allow PETA to transfer them to the Center of Great Apes in Wauchula, Fla. The order came after the judge ruled Haddix had not followed a consent decree she had reached with PETA, which would have allowed her to retain ownership and care for Crystal, Mikayla and Tonka.
Crystal, Mikayla, Tammy, Connor, Candy and Kerry were transferred from the Festus-area facility to the Florida sanctuary on July 28, 2021. Tonka also was supposed to be transferred that day, but Haddix said Tonka died May 24, 2021, after suffering from a stroke or heart attack. Haddix had been ordered by the court to show proof of Tonka’s death, but the proof she provided was not acceptable, PETA said in a court filing.
On Jan. 5, Perry ruled Haddix was unable to prove that Tonka is dead, but she did not hold Haddix in contempt. The judge did allow PETA to file a new lawsuit to force Tonka’s transfer to the Florida facility, if the group is able to discover Tonka is still alive.
PETA asks anyone with information about Tonka’s whereabouts or proof of his death to call 757-622-7382 or submit information at PETA.org/Tonka.
The movie, “Buddy,” is based on the true-life story of Gertrude Lintz, an eccentric 1920s socialite who tried to raise a gorilla like her own child.
“If you know where Cumming’s former costar may have been shipped to, sold, or hidden away, PETA wants to hear from you,” said Brittany Peet, PETA’s deputy general counsel for captive animal law enforcement. “If he’s still alive, Tonka deserves to live out the rest of his days surrounded by chimpanzee friends at a lush sanctuary, as ordered by the court, and someone out there might be able to help PETA get him there.”
Click to read past Leader coverage on the events that led to "Chimp Crazy."